Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
24 November 2008
15:259735#1
Folkestone Lorry Driver Jailed for Drug Smuggling
Mason Stephens, 33, a lorry driver of St Michael Street, Folkestone, Kent was jailed on Friday (21.11.08) at Canterbury Crown Court for seven years and three months for attempting to smuggle over 9.9kgs of cocaine into the UK. The estimated street value of the drugs is £480,000.
On the 30 July 2008 UK Border Agency (UKBA) officers at Dover's Eastern Docks intercepted a British registered lorry at the inward freight lanes. The vehicle was being driven by Stephens and that he was aware of the import prohibitions and restrictions. Officers then searched the lorry and found in a cab locker a holdall which contained the drugs in tape wrapped packages hidden beneath items of clothing.
Stephens was arrested and the case passed to HM Revenue & Customs for further investigation. Stephens pleaded guilty to the attempted importation on 6 October 2008 at Canterbury Crown Court.
Georgina Myles HMRC Regional Press Officer for London and Thames Valley said
"Our investigators and their UK Border Agency colleagues are determined to stop drugs entering the UK and reduce the associated harm to our communities. Anyone with information relating to smuggled goods should contact Customs' 24 hour hotline on 0800 59 5000".
Ends 24.11.08
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
24 November 2008
15:399738#2
This was another foolhardy attempt at smuggling. It was never going to work...the keep the drugs in a holdall in his cab was playing very recklessly with his own freedom. What was the chap thinking. As an experienced lorry driver he will have seen the very good anti drug setup thats now in place at Dover. The two new agencies working together is proving very effective.
Guest 663- Registered: 20 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,136
24 November 2008
19:509748#3
Why do theses people always beleive they can get away with it just goes to show our people are getting better at catching the individuals that think they can bet the checks, unfortunately this guy will not be home for christmas.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
25 November 2008
08:559771#4
Glad they caught him; all those involved in the drugs trade should be treated as harshly as legally possible.
Drugs absolutely destroy people's lives and sadly it's the younger lives that get destroyed.
Roger
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
25 November 2008
09:479780#5
Roger
I agree with you wholeheartedly however you will find that most of these drivers are under tremendous financial pressure to make a living and are targetted by the criminals who after a time wear the driver down by lending him cash which he gladly accepts normally at this time of the year only to ask for him to repay the loan at short notice or lose his lorry and or his fingers or both.The driver is sucked into a no win situation and agrees to carry the drugs just to pay off his loan.
Another case was of a man from Northern Ireland whose family were held hostage unless he picked up and brought drugs through Dover.He was a professional lorry driver of 18years or so.He was told by the paramilitary organisation that failure to comply would result in the loss of his wife and kids lives and his own when and not if they caught up with him.He put his drugs on the passenger seat in the hope he would get caught and then take his chances in the court.But in the eyes of the terrorists he had at least attemted to placate and fulfil their request therefore saving his familys lives.
After a very long and complicated trial he was found not guilty..the jury believed him and the expert witnesses who spoke on his behalf.
So Roger not everything we read is clear cut and the drivers are normally at the lower end of the chain.Yes they have to be stopped but wouldn't be nice if sometimes we could read about the arrest of a high profile city man that was Mr Big and the brains and money behind the organisation.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
25 November 2008
16:059795#6
Yes Marek, I agree with the scenario and case study you bring before us.
It is the Mr. Bigs who need catching and those who work (willingly) for him.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
25 November 2008
20:099823#7
i feel a great deal of sympathy for truck drivers, they get fined a masive amount if an illegal is on their truck.
the illegals could get on at the point of loading, when the driver is signing and checking his documents, at the port when
the driver is having a snooze waiting for his ferry, any truck stop(drivers have to eat, sleep, take a leak).
in my opinion they are a soft target for the authorities to get a conviction and look like they are concerned about the problem.